Egg tray foe incubators



Jan. 19 1926.

P. LIEUWEN EGG TRAY FOR INCUBATORS Filed August 15 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan; 19 1926. 6 5 6 1,569,866

I P; LIEUWEN EGG TRAY FOR INCUBATORS Filed August 13, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I v 31146611801 I eZer Lieuwen a N as,

Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

PETER LIEUWEN, OF HARRISON, SOUTH DAKOTA.

EGG TRAY FGR INGUBATORE.

Application filed August 13, 1925.

To all 'uu'wm it may concern:

Be it lrnown that I, Pnrin: Lrnownn, a citizen of the United States, residing at .l'iarrison, in the county of Douglas and i itate of South Dalaotzu have invented certain new and useful improvements in Egg Trays for incubators, of which the ioll-ou ing is a specification, reference being had to the a :con'ipanying drawings.

This invention re ates to trays for incubators and has for a particular object thereof the construction of an egg tray tacilitating' turning of the An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will permit the tray to be bodily reversed without danger oi any of the eggs being broken, destroyed or assuming an improper position during or as the result of such turning movement.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character so constructed that removal of infertile eggs dur ing; the process of hatch will not interfere with the turning operation or permit move ment of the eggs. v

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is perspective view of an egg tray constructed in accordance with my invention;

.liigure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the free end of one of the bars showing the spring latch;

Figure 3 is a perspective of the catch employed in combination with the latch;

Figure 1- is a longitudinal sectional view through the tray;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view theretl'irough' showing the action of the springs;

Figure 6 is a view showing the tray in its inverted position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates a tray which is of the usual incubator tray con struction with the exception of the fact that its side and end walls 11 and 12 are of greater depth than is usual. The bottom of the tray has the usual screen support 13 upon which the eggs may rest.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a cover for the tray comprising an up- Serial No 50,072.

per structure 1 t pivot-ally and removably connected with the tray as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and a lower structure or screen 15 urged downwardly from the upper structure at a plurality of points by springs 16 secured to this upper strW-ture. The screen .15 is preferably re tie blc so that the springs 143 may urge the time downwardly and cause the same to conform to the contour of 1 re mass arranged below and extend into any spaces such idicated at 17 left by the removal of in order that perfect ventilation may be provided for the egg tray the upper structure 14: is provided with air openings 18 these air openings being preferably produced by forming the upper structure 14- oi? a plurality of spaced parallel bars 19 to which the springs 16 are secured in longitudinally spaced relation in any suitable manner.

As a means for securing this upper st ucture in position upon the tray the bars 19 thereof are each at one end pivotally connected by hinges 20 to a plate 21 adapted to abut and be secured to the outer face of one wall of the egg tray. In the present instance this wall is shown as one ot the end walls 12. The securing means employed is preferably such that th bar 21 in ay be readily removed from the end w l 1.2 and to this end the bar is provided Hill a plurality of key-hole slots 22 having: their lzirge ends arranged upwardly and 4 their lo2rer smaller ends indicated at 353, spaced from the upper edge oil. the 0nd o ll 12 a distance such tl the 24; of headed securing elci'ntuils 55 are engaged tlwrewith when the up Jer edge ot the bar 21 is flush with the upper edge of the end wall 12. swung to over ie the top of the tray with the bar 21 in position, will prevent downward movement of the bar 21 and accordingly escape of the bar troni its securing; element. The opposite ends of the bars are preferably provided with spring clips 26.

in the present instance. these clips 26 are shown as substantially ti-shaped when viewed from the end of the bar and the arms 21' thereof intermediate their ends bein; formed with a spring loop 2) constantly urging; the bipght portion 29 i'hereo'l inwardly beneath the bar. The upper ends of the arms 9/? have angular portions 30 by means oi which thev are attached to the 19. The end wall 12 opposite that to which the The pivoted bars, when bar 21- is secured has secured to its outer face a plurality of catch plates 31 corresponding in number and arrangement to the bars 19 and each provided in its outer face with a notch 32 inclining inwardly and slightly upward y and in which the bight portion 29 of the spring clip may engage.

It will be obvious that these catches will firmly hold the bars 19 against accidental displacement and that as long as these bars are in position, it is impossible for the bar 21 to be displaced. It will also be obvious that the individual spring pressing dow ardly upon the llexible screen 15 will enable the screen to move downwardly to engage against undersized eggs or extend into spaces formed by the removal of eggs thus the necessity for movable partitions or similar expedient for preventing undue movement of the eggs as the tray is reversed is eliminated.

Itwill be obvious that the construction hereinbefore set forth is obviously capable of a certain range of change and modification without materially departing from the spirit of my invention and I ccordingly do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In combination with an egg tray having relatively deep side and end walls and a screened bottom upon which the eggs may rest, a structure removably secured to the egg tray comprising an upper structure overlying the upper edge of the tray, a plurality of transversely and longitudinally spaced springs secured to the upper structure and extending downwardly therefrom and a flexible screen for engaging the upper surface of the eggs, said screen being engaged by the lower ends of the springs, said top structure including a plurality of parallel bars adapted to overlie the upper end of the tray, an attaching bar to which the ends of the first named bars are secured, means detachably connecting the attaching bar to one wall of the incubator tray from which the bar unremovable while the first named bars over lie the top of the tray and means at the opposite ends of the first named bars for detachably securing the first named bars to the opposite wall of the tray.

2. In combination with an tray having relatively deep side and end walls and a screened bottom upon which the may rest, a structure removably secured to the egg tray comprising an upper structure overlying the upper edge of the tray, a plurality of transversely and longitudinally spaced springs secured to the upper structure and extending downwardly therefrom and a flexible screen for engaging the upper surface of the eggs, said screen being engaged by the lower ends of the springs, said top structure including a plurality of parallel bars adapted to overlie the upper end of the tray, an att ching bar to which the ends of the first named bars are secured and means detachably connecting the attaching bar to one wall of the incubator tray from which the bar is unremovablc while the first named bars overlie the top of the tray.

b. In combination with an egg tray having relatively deep side and end walls, and a screened bottom upon which the may rest, a structure remevably secured to the tray comprising an upper structure twerlying the upper edge of the tray, a plurality of transversely and longitudinally spaced springs secured to the upper structure and extending downwardly therefrom and a flexible screen for engaging the upper surface of the eggs, said screen being engaged by lower ends of the the springs, said top structure including a plurality of parallel bars adapted to overlie the upper end of the tray, an ataching; bar to which the ends of the first named bars are secured, means detachably connecting the attaching bar to one wall of the incubator tray from which the bar is unremovable while the first named bars overlie the top of the tray, a spring latch carried by the free end of each bar and catches for the latches secured to the wall of the in cubator tray.

4. In combination with an egg tray having relatively deep side and end walls and a screened bottom upon which the eggs may rest, a structure removably secured to the egg tray comprising an upper structure overlying the upper edge of the tray, a plu rality of transversely and longitudinally spaced springs secured to the upper structure and extending downi'vard y therefrom, a flexible screen for engaging the upper surface of the said screen being engaged by the lower ends of the springs, said top structure including a plurality of parallel bars adapted to overlie the upper end of the tray, an attaching bar to which the ends of the first named bars are secured and means detachably con necting the attaching bar to one wall of the incubator tray from which the bar is unremovable while the first named bars overlie the top of the tray, comprising headed elements mounted on said wall, the attaching bar having key hole slots having their large ends arranged uppermost and their small ends engaged with said securing elements when the upper surface of the bar is flush with the upper edge of the wall.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

PETER LIEUCVEN. 

